The treaty was to be assailed.

It was, however, the pretext, not the cause of the struggle, the real object of which was to extend the powers of the House, and subordinate the executive to its will.

Before beginning the main attack the Republicans developed their general plan in their treatment of secondary issues; of these the principal was a tightening of the control of the House over the Treasury Department.
In this Mr.Gallatin took the lead.

His first measure was the appointment of a standing Committee of Finance to superintend the general operations of this nature,--an efficient aid to the Treasury when there is accord between the administration and the House, an annoying censor when the latter is in opposition.

This was the beginning of the Ways and Means Committee, which soon became and has since continued to be the most important committee of the House.